Cable connector



fiept, 6, R949. J. R. FRANK ET.AL

CABLE CONNECTOR Filed May '7, 1947 Inventors John R. Frank WaIfer Allen Plagenber- Sr.

v Evererf B. M Carry Patented Sept. 6, 1949 CABLE CONNECTOR John R. Frank, St. Charles, and Walter Allen Plagenberg, Sr., Berkeley City, Mo., andEverett B. McCarty, Alton, Ill.

Application May '7, 1947, Serial No. 746,586

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in cable-connectors utilized princi pally in electrical junctionpoints.

An object'of thisinvention is toprovide'a cable connecting meansadaptable to various sizes of cables as well asvar-ioustypes of cables.

Another object-of-this invention is to provide an. improved, pivoted x-cable engaging means within said cable-connector.

Another yobject'of this invention is to provide adjustable locking means, engageable with said cable engaginsmeans.

A still furtherobject of this invention is to provide means for compensating :or expansion and contraction of said :cable engaging and connecting means.

.A further'object of this invention is to provide detachable shim :means to partially compensate .for variousside cables utilized in connection with the present invention.

Another object of this inventionisto provide an extremely simple "and dependable device of this characterzwhichlends itself Well to commercial manufacture.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty shall become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred embodiment/of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure lis an elevational side View of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is :a sectional view'of the invention disclosed in Figure 1,-portions shown in elevation for clarity;

Figure 3 is an elevational front view of the invention disclosed in .Figure 1, the cable removed;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 taken on the other side thereof;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pivoted cable engaging means, and

Figure? is a perspective-view of the shimused in conjunction with the present invention.

Referringnow in detail to theillustrative preferred embodiment of the present invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements.

This invention has been developed to provide a device for receiving electrical conducting apparatus therein and retaining the same in a predetermined position. The prime use of the present invention is with cable (of various, conventional 10 Claims. (Cl. 2856.5)

natures) however, it is within the purview of this invention to utilize the same with other types of conduits in'various environment. The preferred material of construction'ismetallic however, other material might be'utilized, if sodesired.

A housing [0, preferably annular in'configuration, is provided with a flared end portion I2 thereon. A collar 14 is received on said flared portion l2 and may be pressed or otherwise "secured thereon. At selected portions along the longitudinal 'axis of said housing 10, there is formed a pair of annular shoulders I6 and It respectively. These shoulders areutilized in re- F taining theinventionwith'm a conventional outlet box 20. The space "between the said shoulders 16 and I8 is occupied 'bythe usual face of the outlet box 20 after forcing the invention therein.

A cable 22 is:received inthe sleeve-like housing Ill. The travel of the housing [0 on the cable 22 is limited by means .of the lug 24 engaging the terminal portion thereof.

In order to retain'the cable 22 in aifixed, immovable position relative tothe housing [9, a bafiie means is provided in the housing. This baiile means may be'viewed'in Figure 6 wherein there is disclosed an arcuate plate 28 having a reduced shank portion 30 extending therefrom and pads :32 on saidreduced portions. The reduced portions .30 and pads extend through a suitable slot 34 extending longitudinally of said housing H1. The said slot 34 has an enlarged portion 36, specifically provided for the purpose of receiving the above mentioned portions 30 and 32 respectively. .After'the bafiie plate 28 is received in the desired positionfthe pads 32 are bent slightly 'to 'provide a locking means. By this construction, pivotalimovement of the plate 281s permitted yet thesaid plate 28 is not permitted to fall outof the housing 10. In other words, movementofthe plate28'is restricted to pivotal motion.

.A suitable threaded aperture is provided in the housing lllifor the purpose of receiving an adjusting means therein. This adjusting means is preferably aset screw 39 which abuts'a suitable slot, .detent or'camtrackdfl in the said'plate 28. Inspection of Figure 2 discloses that the said screw 39 holds the plate 28 into fixed relation with the said cable 22.

Diametrically opposite the said slots 34 in a housing I!) there is provided a second slot 42 which extends substantially the full length of the housing l0, terminating adjacent but not at the terminal portions thereof. The said slot 42 is utilized as an expansion and contraction means, for compensation of various factors as in pressing the housing within the box 20.

When the invention is utilized with smaller types of cables, a shim 45 preferably arcuate in configuration is supplied at the base of the housing l0. Legs 46 depend from the shim 45 for the purpose of engaging the inner bore of the housing 10. This last mentioned shim element is optional in nature, being utilized only when cables of relatively small cross-sectional areas are employed.

In retaining the housing Ill within the electrical box (or other junction apparatus), after placing the shoulders l6 and ill on opposite sides of the wall 20, the screw means 39'is tightened not only securing the cable 22 within the housing II], but also separating the housing to effectively lock the same within the electrical box.

While there has beendescribed and illustrated a device capable of performing all of the specifically mentioned objects as well as numerous ancillary objects, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the present invention what is claimed as novel and improved is as follows:

1. A cable connector comprising a housing, means for securing said housing to a receptacle, a slot in said housing, cable engaging means pivoted in said slot, means for adjustably urging said cable engaging means, a shim in said house.

2. A cable connector comprising a housing, means for securing said housing to a receptacle, a slot in said housing, cable engaging means pivoted in said slot, means for adjustably urging said cable engaging means, a shim in said housing and an expansion slot in said housing.

3. A cable connector comprising a housing, means for securing said housing to a receptacle, a slot in said housing, cable engagin means pivoted in said slot, means for adjustably urging said cable engaging means, a shim in said housing and an expansion slot in said housing, said cable engaging means comprising an arcuate baflle having a reduced portion extending through said slot and lock means on said reduced portion.

4. A cable connector comprising a housing, means for securing said housing to a receptacle, a slot in said housing, cable engaging means pivoted in said slot, means for adjustably urging said cable engaging means, a shim in said housing and an expansion slot in said housing, said cable engaging means comprising an arcuate baffle having a reduced portion extending through said slot and lock means on said reduced portion, an arcuate detent in said baflle, said adjustable urging means including a set screw extending through said housing and engaging said detent.

5. Means for retaining cables in a fixed position comprising a sleeve having a longitudinal slot and an enlargement of said slot, cable engaging means pivoted in said enlargement, locking means on said cable engaging means, means for retaining said cable engaging means in a predetermined fixed position operatively engaging and forming a portion of said locking means, expansion means in said sleeve.

6. Means for retaining cables in a fixed position comprising a sleeve having a longitudinal slot and an enlargement of said slot, cable engaging means pivoted in said enlargement, locking means on said cable engaging means, means for retaining said cable engaging means in a predetermined fixed position engaging and forming a portion of said locking means, expansion means in said sleeve, and further means for reducing the bore of said sleeve detachably received in said sleeve.

'1. Means for retaining cables in a fixed position comprising a sleeve having a slot and an enlargement of said slot, cable engaging means pivoted in said enlargement, locking means on said cable engaging means, means for retaining said cable engaging means in a predetermined fixed position engagin and forming a portion of said locking means, expansion means in said sleeve, said looking means comprising flanges on said cable engaging means abutting said sleeve.

8. Means for retaining cables in a fixed position comprising a sleeve having a slot and an enlargement of said slot, cable engaging means pivoted in said enlargement, locking means on said cable engaging means, means for retaining said cable engaging means in a predetermined fixed position, expansion means in said sleeve, said locking means comprising flanges on said cable engaging means abutting said sleeve, said retaining means comprising a set screw in said housing seatin on said cable engaging means.

9. Means for retaining cables in a fixed position comprising a sleeve, a slot in said sleeve, an enlargement of said slot, cable engaging means pivoted at one end thereof in said enlargement, locking means on said cable engaging means, means for retaining said cable engaging means in a predetermined fixed position, expansion means in said sleeve, said expansion means comprising a slot extending longitudinally of said sleeve and. terminating adjacent the ends thereof.

10. A cable connector comprising a housing having slot means therein, common means in said housing for retaining cable in said housing and for securing said housing to a junction box, said means including spaced'shoulders on said housing adapted to receive the wall of a junction box therebetween, cable engaging means pivoted at one end in said slot and including a cam track, adjustable means in said housing engaging said cam track and expanding said housing.

JOHN R. FRANK.

WALTER ALLEN PLAGEN'BERG, SR.

EVERETT B. MCCARTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,644,313 Thomas Oct. 4, 1927 1,816,664 Thomas July 28, 1931 

